Meese Urges U.S., Mexico to Cooperate

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III on Thursday called for an end to a Senate subcommittee’s accusations of Mexican corruption and drug trafficking and urged instead that the United States and Mexico cooperate to resolve their shared problems.

“We should be fighting against drug traffickers, not allowing elements of our governments to be fighting with each other,” Meese told Mexican reporters by satellite in an interview arranged by the U.S. Information Agency.

Meese appeared to contradict testimony by U.S. Customs Commissioner William von Raab and others who have said that corruption permeates the Mexican bureaucracy, perhaps extending even to the staff of President Miguel de la Madrid.

Effective Cooperation

“Whenever evidence of corruption has been presented to Mexican authorities, they have promptly followed up,” he said. “Cooperation has been very effective.”

Most of the interview questions centered on charges made by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and witnesses in a series of hearings conducted by the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Latin America, which created a furor in Mexico.

Meese appeared reluctant to criticize Helms, a staunch conservative. However, when asked if the hearings should continue, he replied: “I think we’ve reached the point where no more useful information can be produced. Our attention ought to be directed toward solving the problems and not at pointing fingers.”

The attorney general said he would not identify two Mexican governors whom the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, John Gavin, described in recent testimony as “up to their ears” in drug trading.

‘Ongoing Investigation’

“I think it would be improper for me to comment on any ongoing investigation,” Meese said, indicating that U.S. or Mexican law enforcement agencies may be investigating the matter. He said he is confident that Mexican Atty. Gen. Sergio Garcia Ramirez will prosecute any wrongdoing.

Meese sought to reassure questioners who asked if a new border security program being prepared under his supervision will use U.S. military forces to reinforce border patrol and other agencies trying to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

“We have no plans to use the National Guard in such a way that it might be intimidating to Mexican citizens,” he said. “I don’t anticipate that we will be making use of the military other than as support for regular law enforcement.”